Defense Update Bangladesh

Bangladesh Army Signed Deal for New Anti-Tank Weapons.  Several deals has been signed with different eastern European countries for the new anti-tank weapons. This package includes long-range anti-tank rocket propelled grenade launchers, short-range anti-tank weapons, short-range anti-tank guided missiles and long-range anti-tank guided missiles etc. The number of these systems are large, though, not confirmed. Still it is not known with which countries Bangladesh Army signed those deals. But it is expected that Ukraine, Serbia, Poland, and other Balkan states are in the list. Bangladesh Army building a formidable anti-tank weapons inventory. It comprised second and third generation anti-tank guided missiles. Previously the main ATGM was Pakistan made Baktar-Shikan ATGM which is a license built version of the Chinese HJ-8. Recently Bangladesh buying the most modern and advanced military equipment whether it is a weapons platform or any auxiliary system. It suggests that Dhaka r...

This is a relatively comparative analysis between the Bangladesh Air Force’s upcoming J-10C and Myanmar Air Force’s JF-17M. Reportedly Bangladesh ordered 16 Chengdu J-10s in a recent time. On the other hand myanmar supposed shortly to take delivery of their ordered 16 JF-17 Thunder block-2 fighter jets.

BD Air Force started to modernize their existing eight Mig-29 fighter jets to the latest “SMT” variant. This modernization includes new multi-mode multifunctional fire control radar, better performance engine, other advanced avionics and latest weaponry with BVR air-to-air missiles.  Bangladesh Air Force has six single-seat & two twin-seat Mig-29s which were bought from Russia in 2000. Already these fighter jets of BAF has been overhauled two times. These are the most advanced fighter jets Bangladesh has in its advanced combat jet inventory.  On the other side, myanmar air force also proceeding to upgrade their 31 Mig-29s. Currently the relations between Bangladesh and myanmar disrupted severely over Rohingya genocide issues. Myanmar air force helicopters also violated Bangladesh’s airspace several times, though, Dhaka restrained from shooting them down.  As experts saying, if Bangladesh Air Force doesn’t briefly increase their advanced fighter jet number...

Bangladesh Police has several special operations units which are best in the region. Among them Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) and Special Branch (SB) are doing great jobs to minimize and root out crimes. These forces were formed to help the mainstream Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). Bangladesh is a vastly populated country and hence security situations changes fast. To maintain peace and stability in the society government established various special opeartions units of Bangladesh Police. Here are a list of those forces.  Special Weapons and Tactics Rapid Action Battalion  Special Security and Protection Battalion Special Branch Crisis Response Team Quick Response Team Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit Anti-terrorist Squad They usually do the jobs under the Home Ministry’s supervision.

There are one prominent naval special operations force in Bangladesh Navy which is called Special Warfare Diving and Salvage (SWADS). Besides, there are two other Spec Ops units also, called Special Boat Service and ODD-71. SWADS are the main naval special warfare branch of Bangladesh Navy.  SWADS been formed under supervision of the U.S. Navy SEALs and accordingly. SWADS’s training as same as Navy SEALs. Their weapons and other gears are also in line with the U.S. SEALs. Bangladesh Navy send their SWADS trainees to the Turkey, South Korea too for training along with U.S. Navy’s Coronado Naval Special Warfare Training Center.  The SWADS are operating in home and abroad to attain the national security goals of Bangladesh. Current strength around 1000-1500 operators. Average drop rate is 95%. Only strong and capable are remains. SWADS can operate almost all types of the weapons available. They’re like shark in the seas, eagle in the skies and leopards in the lands. They...

Bangladesh Air Force operates a small commando unit called “No. 41 Squadron”. This commando unit was formed to protect country’s air bases, aircrafts and other air force installations and assets.  Besides doing special operations duties members of the No. 41 Squadron can also perform other air force jobs too. In future this unit will grow with a handsome number of members.

Bangladesh Army Para-commando brigade is the prime special operations force of the country. It is an independent brigade, officially formed 4 September 2016. Consists of three Para-Commando battalions, 1st Para-Commando Battalion, 2nd Para-Commando Battalion and 3rd Para-Commando Battalion.  Main duty to deter against any un-conventional security threat to the state. Operational duties includes: Unconventional warfare Counter-insurgency Counter-narcotics Counter-terrorism Covert insertions/extractions Hostage rescue and personnel recovery Raids  Special reconnaissance  Airborne operation  Members of the Bangladesh Army Para-commando brigade are highly trained Spec Ops Force can operate in anywhere in the world. They already conducted various successful missions and assignments against terrorism in home and abroad. This brigade can conduct any combat mission other than war to thwart any aggressor’s invasion. Toughest an...

China State Shipbuilding Corporation launched the third C-13B Shadhinota-class stealth corvette for Bangladesh Navy. This warship has been derived from the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s Type 056 stealth corvette.  BN currently operating two C-13B corvettes respectively F111 and F112. These ships are littoral combat and patrol vessels. This ship displaces 1,330 tons. BN has a plan to operate such 12-14 warships in future.

Reportedly, Bangladesh Air Force ordered one squadron of Chengdu J-10C fighter jets from China. As experts suggests, many observe that J-10C incorporated some stealth technology from the J-20 stealth fighter. BAF wants to replace their older F-7BG fleet with 4.5th generation fighters. Initially 16 aircrafts has been ordered, but in future whole fleet of 37 “BGI” will be replaced by this advanced J-10C fighter jets.  In midst of 2017 Bangladesh Air Force issued an international tender to purchase 8 (+40 Medium Range Combat Aircrafts, well known as the MRCA tender. Along with Russian Su-30SME, Mig-35 Chengdu J-10B was a participant. BAF selected Su-30SME as the primary winner, but later the deal has not been signed due high-price tagging from Moscow.  After that, RSK-Mig offered their Mig-35 multipurpose fighter jet to Bangladesh with some sort of transfer-of-technology. Meanwhile, BAF finalized a deal for 16 J-10C fighter jets from China. This “Chinese deal” was in...

Bangladesh Air Force conducted live air-to-air missile firing test recently to calibrate and augment air warfare capabilities. In this training Mig-29, F-7BGI and L-39ZA aircrafts participated. All the combat planes were from the Kurmitola Air Base. This training exercise was successful.

Myanmar Air Force ordered six Russian Su-30 fighter jets, announcement came during General Shoigu’s visit there. Along with these combat aircrafts, burmese military will also procure some more equipment from Moscow. $200 million has been allotted to buy six Su-30. As per the total price mentioned each of the Sukhoi will costs around $34 million.  But, there’s no information about the exact variant of the myanmar air force’s Su-30s. The latest variant that Bangladesh Air Force wanted to buy is the “Su-30SME” which will cost around $60 million. And, except indian air force’s Su-30MKI other variants are not in production. So, definitely Russia will export their grounded baseline Sukhoi-30 to myanmar.  Previously, Moscow exported grounded indian Su-30MKIs to the Angolan Air Force. Those were upgraded in Russia. As the latest variants are much expensive platform so burma surely buying older ones. Not the latest Su-30SME variant.  Bangladesh Air Force was mainly in...